Production at South African gold producer AngloGold Ashanti’s Mponeng mine, in Carletonville, had stopped on Thursday, with nearly 16 000 workers observing a day of mourning, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) said.

The employees were mourning the death of a colleague who died in a tramming accident early last week.

AngloGold Ashanti spokesperson Alan Fine confirmed that nearly all of the NUM’s members had stopped work on Thursday, adding that the company expected production to possibly resume on Thursday evening.

However, NUM spokesperson Lesiba Seshoka said employees would only resume work on Friday morning.

Mponeng had produced 160 000 ounces of gold in quarter ended June.

AngloGold Ashanti also had to close its TauTona mine, in Carletonville, for several days since the end of last week, owing to a fatality caused by a fall-of-ground.

Shares in AngloGold Ashanti gained 2,04% in Johannesburg on Thursday, to close at R211,24 apiece. The spot price of gold rose 2,21%, to $833.80/oz.

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